To unite the community to achieve measurable results that change lives.
United Way of Dane County Inc. directs large, recurring support to local organizations in Madison and across Dane County, with several grantees appearing year after year. The most visible pattern in the recent grants is sustained backing for RISE Wisconsin, which received more than $1.2 million in 2025 after similar awards in 2024 and 2023. YWCA of Madison shows the same continuity, with awards in all three years in the recent-grants list. The foundation’s giving is built around community well-being priorities that include education, youth opportunity, financial security, healthy community, and community resiliency. Its recent grants also show support for organizations working on housing, family stability, immigrant-serving services, poverty response, and community support infrastructure. In several cases, the grants are structured as program operating cost support or donor designation for general support, which points to funding that helps organizations keep core services running rather than only financing a single project. United Way of Dane County Inc. also gives through named community programs such as How We Invest, the United Way Foundation, By Youth For Youth, and Micro-Investment Funds, all of which are tied to Dane County.
Education and youth opportunity are central to the foundation’s giving. In that area, The Road Home received $462,277 in 2023, followed by $460,357 in 2024 and $445,289 in 2025, all for program operating cost or donor designation for general support. Centro Hispano of Dane County also appears across multiple years, with $449,208 in 2023, $432,021 in 2024, and $457,513 in 2025. Financial security and basic needs show up in support for Community Action Coalition for South Central WI, which received $301,294 in 2024 and $361,726 in 2025. The Salvation Army of Dane County received $298,832 in 2024. Community support organizations also figure in the portfolio: Urban League of Greater Madison received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while JustDane received awards in all three years in the recent-grants list.
Typical grants are in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $9,241, median is $21,962, and p75 is $91,747. The recent-grants list shows a strong repeat-recipient pattern, with organizations such as RISE Wisconsin, YWCA of Madison, The Road Home, Centro Hispano of Dane County, Urban League of Greater Madison, and JustDane appearing across multiple years. The funder also uses donor designation for general support and program operating cost support, alongside named community investment programs. United Way of Dane County Inc. accepts unsolicited applications in some active programs, including How We Invest and Community Impact Investment.
$11.4M
$21.9M
$20.7M
$22.1M
Most grants fall between $9K and $92K, with a median of $22K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$22K
75th Percentile
$92K
Renee Moe
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Giving is overwhelmingly local: 84% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Madison is the main recipient city in the recent-grants list, with multiple grants going to organizations there, including RISE Wisconsin, YWCA of Madison, The Road Home, Centro Hispano of Dane County, Urban League of Greater Madison, and JustDane. Outside Madison, Philadelphia appears through grants to CHC Creating Healthier Communities.
The recent grants point to nonprofit organizations working in education, youth services, financial security and economic opportunity, health, community resiliency, 211 information and referral, and volunteer engagement. The funder also supports core operations and general support rather than only project-specific work.
Yes. The geographic scope of giving is local, 84% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the five-figure range: p25 is $9,241, median is $21,962, and p75 is $91,747.
Yes. How We Invest accepts unsolicited applications, and Community Impact Investment for the 2025-2026 cycle also accepts applications. Youth Opportunity and By Youth For Youth are listed as active funding-related programs as well.
Yes. Several organizations recur across the recent-grants list, including RISE Wisconsin, YWCA of Madison, The Road Home, Centro Hispano of Dane County, Urban League of Greater Madison, and JustDane, each appearing in more than one year.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from United Way of Dane County that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations doing outstanding work aligned to the Plan for Community Well-Being, especially in Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Healthy Communities; open competitive process.
Deadline: Next application period expected to open Spring 2027
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RISE Wisconsin | Madison, WI | $1,203,675 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| YWCA of Madison | Madison, WI | $846,422 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| United Way of Dane County Foundation | Madison, WI | $521,491 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| CHC Creating Healthier Communities | Philadelphia, PA | $467,902 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| Centro Hispano of Dane County | Madison, WI | $457,513 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| The Road Home | Madison, WI | $445,289 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Urban League of Greater Madison | Madison, WI | $382,469 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Community Action Coalition for South Central WI | Madison, WI | $361,726 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| JustDane | Madison, WI | $326,533 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Community Shares of Wisconsin | Madison, WI | $308,903 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| Journey Mental Health Center | Madison, WI | $229,580 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Madison | Madison, WI | $222,566 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Rainbow Project | Madison, WI | $218,680 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern WI | Madison, WI | $209,109 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Access Community Health Centers | Madison, WI | $208,427 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Literacy Network | Madison, WI | $203,344 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| The Salvation Army of Dane County | Madison, WI | $200,781 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Goodman Community Center | Madison, WI | $199,961 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County | Madison, WI | $182,380 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| WayForward Resources | Middleton, WI | $180,855 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Children's Service Society of Wisconsin | Madison, WI | $179,113 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| The Playing Field | Madison, WI | $162,154 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost |
| American Heart Association | Madison, WI | $154,187 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| Porchlight | Madison, WI | $144,279 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| The Hmong Institute | Madison, WI | $142,335 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost |
| Foundation for Black Women's Wellness | Madison, WI | $131,731 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost |
| Boys & Girls Club of Dane County | Madison, WI | $126,063 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| EarthShare | Washington, DC | $125,118 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| Urban Triage | Madison, WI | $103,819 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost |
| Latino Academy of Workforce Development | Madison, WI | $102,727 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost |
| Stoughton Area Resource Team | Stoughton, WI | $101,710 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Dane County Humane Society | Madison, WI | $93,291 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Sunshine Place | Sun Prairie, WI | $92,424 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Hunger Relief Fund Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI | $89,265 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| America's Best Charities | Larkspur, CA | $88,317 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| East Madison Community Center | Madison, WI | $80,587 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Briarpatch Youth Services Inc | Madison, WI | $79,970 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Global Impact | Atlanta, GA | $77,502 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| United Way of San Diego County | San Diego, CA | $75,473 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| Madison Metropolitan School District | Madison, WI | $73,852 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost |
| Operation Fresh Start | Madison, WI | $61,749 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Habitat for Humanity of Dane County | Madison, WI | $60,708 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| NewBridge Madison | Madison, WI | $60,664 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Reach Dane | Madison, WI | $58,824 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Dane County Human Services | Madison, WI | $51,834 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost |
| Access to Community Services | Madison, WI | $48,970 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| Agrace HospiceCare | Fitchburg, WI | $44,177 | 2025 | Donor Designation for General Support |
| Lussier Community Education Center | Madison, WI | $43,536 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Simpson Street Free Press | Monona, WI | $41,697 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
| Center for Community Stewardship | Madison, WI | $40,467 | 2025 | Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support |
CHC Creating Healthier Communities
$467,902Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Urban League of Greater Madison
$382,469Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Journey Mental Health Center
$229,580Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Rainbow Project
$218,680Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Access Community Health Centers
$208,427Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Literacy Network
$203,344Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
The Salvation Army of Dane County
$200,781Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
WayForward Resources
$180,855Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
The Hmong Institute
$142,335Program Operating Cost
Boys & Girls Club of Dane County
$126,063Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Latino Academy of Workforce Development
$102,727Program Operating Cost
Stoughton Area Resource Team
$101,710Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Sunshine Place
$92,424Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
East Madison Community Center
$80,587Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Madison Metropolitan School District
$73,852Program Operating Cost
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Habitat for Humanity of Dane County
$60,708Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
NewBridge Madison
$60,664Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Reach Dane
$58,824Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Dane County Human Services
$51,834Program Operating Cost
Access to Community Services
$48,970Donor Designation for General Support
Agrace HospiceCare
$44,177Donor Designation for General Support
Lussier Community Education Center
$43,536Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Simpson Street Free Press
$41,697Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
Program Operating Cost/Donor Designation for General Support
